Climate change in human rights policy-making

Abstract

In this article I argue that climate change should be treated not only as an environmental issue but also as a human rights concern. Using Malta as an example, i highlight how climate impacts such as heatwaves, water stress, biodiversity loss, and coastal vulnerability affect people's everyday lives, particularly those who are already socially vulnerable. i call for climate adaptation and mitigation policies to be guided by principles of social justice, participation, equity, and human rights, ensuring that climate risks and responses are assessed in terms of their social consequences and distributional effects.